Price changes?

Prices for dolls specifically, at least that I know of haven't shifted because of the pandemic. The hobby is expensive so prices are always high.

Shipping prices however, have varied during the pandemic especially if you're buying from mandarake or somewhere like dollyteria. Certain shops are only offering specific shipping options which means you see the prices for shipping fluctuate.

In the past, the Korean won crashed and many of the Korean companies dropped their prices to reflect that, but when the currency stabilized they set their prices back up. During that time I remember Delfs specifically being cheaper which was exciting for a lot of people.

 

I think that second-hand prices have risen a bit, but not buying new from a company. Like mentioned above, shipping prices have definately been adjusted depending on the country. . . Alice's Collections actually has a warning about it for Soul Doll right now.

 

I got into the hobby in 2007 and, as far as I can recall, prices have stayed rather consistent. Some have increased, and some have actually decreased, but it's all pretty minor and honestly better than I would have expected with inflation.

 

Prices have always been like this. I do believe shipping has gotten more expensive then when I got into the hobby ten years ago. But shipping costs in general oversees I think have gone up due to the pandemic. BJD is a luxury hobby, it’s rough I know haha

 

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No, I've been here since 2009 and in my memory, prices for dolls have been pretty much the same. Politics and shipping changes alter shipping costs, Customs fees, supply costs or slight variations over all, but only single countries have had any major changes over the last decade or so due to currency valuation in their one country, as far as I have seen.

 

the price of doll accessories is getting more expensive I think.

 

The current pandemic situation has effected shipping costs far more than doll prices. I don't know of any doll prices that have changed at all recently. Prices can vary due to currency conversion rates as @Rosslyn mentioned, but that is the only variation I've seen.

 

I'm actually kind of impressed at how consistent prices have been over the last decade given cost of living and material cost increases.

 

I've been in the hobby since 2008, and most of the dolls themselves haven't had much change in prices that I've noticed. The price of shipping has skyrocketed--my first doll was in stock with a dealer across the country (US) from me, and I paid $8 for insured priority mail on a full MSD. Now, it's closer to $25 or even more. I only buy SD now, but it's not unusual for shipping them within my country to be $30-50, and international well over $100.

I have also noticed major increases in clothes/accessories in that time. The first pair of boots I bought for my doll were $12. Now the exact same style goes for $25-35. It's kind of funny, in a way. When I was new to the hobby, I was so used to being able to buy a full Barbie outfit for under $5 that $10 for a BJD shirt or pants seemed ridiculous. I'd love to have those low prices back!

 

I feel like the clothing/shoes/eyes prices have gone up. Especially with the smaller sellers....the ones I'm most interested in. But being a sewer myself, the price of fabric has gone up in the last couple of years. Coupled with exchange rates (I'm Canadian and buy alot from the US...the exchange kills me sometimes!!) that has caused an increase in doll clothing prices. To be expected I feel. So now when I buy clothing or shoes or eyes, they have to be something I really really want.

 

Someone on another forum mentioned the pandemic having an effect on the doll market, but I didn’t get whether they meant it in a good way or a bad way (because people were selling off their collections or diverting funds to other things like food and housing due to job insecurity, or because more people were getting into the hobby due to increased time at home? I’m not sure what they meant).

I got back into the hobby entirely by chance earlier this year after years of being out of it, so I have no idea personally, but from the replies in this thread it sounds like not much has changed apart from shipping and accessories.

I’d be interested to know how the rise of the Chinese economy has affected prices. I guess Chinese goods weren’t as easily available as they are now, but there must have been a small window where they were both widely available to the rest of the world and dirt cheap.

 

Prices for the dolls have been remarkably stable. Doll brands I bought in 2005-2006 cost about the same today. If anything, there are more lower-priced options available now than there used to be. Shipping is painful though.